Media Release: Rail

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Rail News Victoria Aug 2014 published a detailed criticism of the history, politics, and technology involved in the current plans for the Melbourne suburban rail network. The central contentions are that vested interests at PTV have actively fought against the adoption of double-decker trains; the arguments they used against them are specious; and the alternatives being pushed by PTV are far more expensive. It discusses how Paris RER A line uses double-decker trains to move almost as many people as the entire Melbourne network combined, and points out the disaster awaiting Sydney after 50 years of successful use if the plan to revert to single-deck trains for the NW line goes ahead.

Several other aspects were missing from today’s announcement, such as the actual design of the stations and level-crossings, whether provision for additional tracks are being made, why Frankston line is not being considered for bulk freight movement [assuming Port of Hastings development goes ahead], how the new trains manage to have a crush load of 1400 vs ~870 for current sets, the bulk and extent of commercial development to be built on the station sites and what happens to the trees and existing open space.

It’s not even clear when construction might actually start, but it looks like it won’t be during the term of the current government—perhaps 2019 at the earliest.

The plans are thin as they are all too hard. The extra line (third) which is absolutely needed on the Dandenong line is all too hard. So they ignore it. The design of the Carnegie station will be interesting if they can find someone to design the thing. Not a lot of space next to the track to keep the current service running and dig a hole for the new underpass. It will take till 2019 to work it all out.

Of coarse this will be built on the private partnership model, so it’s going to be under wraps, cost 3 to 5 times more that what it really costs, and expect some real estate deals on the station precincts around Carnegie and Murra in Glen Eira.

The sky will be the limit now with Labor desperately trying to win friends with developers, so they can cut lose The Transurban Group on the East-West scandal, that the Lib signed-up us sucker for.